State officials said Thursday that damage to the marble inside and out the State Capitol would cost an estimated $7.5 million.

Cari Anne Renlund, chief legal counsel for the state Department of Administration, said in Dane County court that estimates of damage to marble includes $6 million to repair damaged marble inside the Capitol, $1 million for damage outside and $500,000 for costs to supervise the damage.

Much of the damage apparently has come from tape used to put up signs and placards at the Capitol.

It was not immediately clear how the estimates were made, though the state is apparently relying on opinions by historical architects, one of whom works for the U.S. Park Service.

One concern is the residue from tape that the state says is causing damage to stone and other surfaces inside the Capitol.

I share the skepticism of some JSonline.com readers about the extent of the damage, but even if it's a small fraction of $7.5 million, it would be a lot.

Gosh, if the estimate is accurate, at $100,000 in pay and benefits, that's enough to pay 75 teachers in Milwaukee's public schools at their current rate for a year.

No one will be surprised that I haven't seen much evidence of the establishment press picking up this story.

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